Waistband for garments.



T. R. GAINES'.

WAI STBAND FOR GARMENTS. APPLICATION HLED JAN. 21. I916.

Patented Dec.12, 1916.

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UNITEN dTdT-Ed THOMAS E. GAINES, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORTO E; H. KING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH,

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

WAISTBAND FOR GARMEN TS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. GAINES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Waistbandsfor Garments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to waistbands for garments, such as skirts,underskirts, and the like.

The object of this invention is to provide waistbands which may beadjusted to the various sizes of the waists of the wearers, preferablybefore the garments are put on, by means of tapes or laces provided withspaced openings, into which locking or holding tapes, laces, or the likeare placed to prevent any change in the predetermined adjustment of thewaistband.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side view of theupper portion of a garment, the view being from the rear, the sides ofthe vent being spread apart so as to show the inside of the garmentadjacent to the waistband; and a front portion of the garment beingbroken away; Fig. 2, a plan view, looking down on the left side of thegarment; Fig. 8, an enlarged side view of the interlocking tapes forbolding the waistband, in a selected adjustment; Fig. 4, a side view ofa portion of a waistband showing a second form of my invention; Fig. 5,atop view showing the form of invention illustrated on Fig. 4; Fig. 6, asimilar view showing a third form of my invention; Fig. 7, a side viewshowing a fourth form of my invention; Fig. 8, a top plan view of Fig.7; Fig. 9, a top view showing a fifth form of my invention; and Fig. 10,a top view showing a sixth form of my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 1 designates the body of a garmenthaving the waistband 2. 3 represents the edges of the vent or placketprovided with fasteners 4 of preferred construction at the ends of thewaistband. I have shown the waistband with means for gathering portionsthereof adjacent to the vent or placket, but it is clear that theportions to be gathered may be located at other places on the waistband.In the particular embodiment of my invention shown on Figs. 1, 2, and 3,I provide tape 5 the top ofthe band in order at each side of the vent acomprlsing a narrow tape or lace 6 threaded back and forthlongitudinally through a wider tape 7, whereby a longitudinal series ofopenings or ways 8 are provided between the tapes 6 and 7. One end ofone compound tape 5 is secured to the one end of the band, which is atthe edge of the vent and the other compound tape is secured to the otherend of the band, which is at the other edge of the vent. The portions ofthe band to be gathered extend from the vent to the openings 9 in theband, through which openings the compound tapes 5 are passed to theoutside of the band. The tapes are then passed through the openings 10to the inside of the band. These openings are made so as to fit thetapes quite closely and yet loosely enough to allow the tapes to travelthrough them easily. I secure to the band the two short keys or lookingtapes 11 one for each compound tape 5. Pockets 12 are provided below theopening 10 for the reception of the free ends of the tapes. I providefor each tape 5 a channel or sheath 13 on the inside of the band to keepthe tape and band opposite each other and to conceal the tape. Thesesheaths extend from the fixed ends of the tapes to about the openings 9and 10. The tapes 5 are provided with numbers opposite the loops oropenings between the tapes 6 and 7. The loops or openings 8 in the havethe same number at equal distances from the fixed ends of the tape 5.

compound tape 5,

The numbers indicate different sizes of waists. If the band is to beadjusted for a 29-inch waist, the tapes 5 are drawn through the openings10 in the direction of the free ends of the tapes, until the loops oropenings 10 corresponding to the number 35 pass to the inside of theband. Then the locking tapes 11 are passed through the openings 8between the tapes 6 and 7 and drawn down so that they are not exposedabove the band. I have shown the tape 11 on Fig.

2 and the right hand tape 11 on Fig. 1 above not to confuse the linesnear the top of the belt. When the garment is put on, the vent is closedand secured by the fasteners 4;. The looking tapes are drawn up tightlyagainst the band at the openings 10, through which the tapes 5 cannotpass owing to the obstrucopenings tion made by the tapes 11. I do. notlimit.

my invention to any particular form or construction of the openings 10.

In Figs. 4c and 5, I have shown the compound tape, marked 5*, made oftwo tapes or the like stitched together at regular dis.- tances as shownat 14k so as to provide the evenly spaced loops or openings 8 betweenthem to receive the locking tapes 11, one of which is shown in Fig. 4:passed through the loop, bearing the waist-size number 30. The tape 11is not shown entirely drawn down to final position which is below theupper edge of the band, as shown on the left side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows the parts the, same, as on Figs. t'and 5, except that thelocking tape 11 has been omitted and the free e d of the com pound tape5 has taken the place of the locking tape, the free end of the tape 5*being shown on the loop corresponding to the waist-size member 24:.

On Figs. 7 and 8, I show the simple tape 5 which corresponds to acompound tape 5 or 5 This tape has. a single longitudinal series ofholes 15, made in any desired way. I. have indicated eyelets as thepreferred form for the openings 15. The eyelet corresponding to thedesired size-member, as. 32, is drawn through the opening 10, and thelocking tape 11 is passed through the said eyelet and then through oneor more of, the adjacent eyelets to prevent the tape 11 from slipping inthe tape 5 The tape 11 forms a bunch in front of the opening 10' ofsuflieient size to, prevent the eyelet and tape 11 from passing throughthe same, provided the opening 10.- has been made small enough and thematerial of the band has sufficient strength.

In Fig. 9,v I have shown a simple tape 5 with two series of evenlyspaced eyelets 16, the members of one series being over the members ofthe other series so as to constitute a series of pairs of eyelets. Ihave shown the tape 5 drawn through the opening 10 until the pair ofeyelets corresponding to the, waist-size member 33 ust appears on theinside of the band 2. I thread the locking tape 11v through the saidpair of eyelets, and thereby form an obstruction on the tape 5 whichprevents the tape 5 from being drawn back through the opening 10'.

On Fig. 10, I show the band 2 without the 9 and 10, but with the smallflap or piece 17 of strong cloth secured to it at the placecorresponding to the position where the opening 10, is in thepreviousviews. This flap has, a small opening 10 having the same function as theopenings 10 hereinbefore described, namely to receive an adjusting tape,such as, the tape 5"-, for example. This tape is. drawn through theopening 10 until the desired size-member appears, when the looking tape11 is put down through the loop or opening 8?, corresponding to the saidnumber. The obstruction made by the tape 11 prevents the tape 5? frombeing pulled back through the opening 10.

In Figs. 2 to 10, I have shown only one adusting tapeand cooperatingparts, but it will be understood that there will be two such tapes andcoiiperating parts arranged as shown on Fig. 1, one at each side of thevent or at other selected places. It is clear that the adjusting tapescan be secured at various places on the band 2 and that the positions atwhich the adjusting and locking tapes are secured may be reversed.

I claim 1. A garment having a waistband, a tape secured at one end tothe waistband, and having a longitudinal series of openings, there beingin fixed relation to the Waistband a holethrough which the said tape ispassed, the said tape being passed through the hole, and any one of thesaid openings serving to receive a locking means to prevent the tapefrom passing back through the hole.

2., A garment having a waistband, a tape secured at one end to theWaistband and having a longitudinal series of openings, a hole in thewaistband, through which the tape is passed, and a locking means passedthrough one of" the openings to prevent the tape passing back throughthe hole.

3. A garment having a waistband and a flap provided with a hole, a tapehaving one end secured to, the waistband and the other end extendingthrough the hole in the flap, and means extending through one of theopenings and cooperating with the flap to prevent the tape from passingback through the hole.

4., A garment having a waistband, a tape secured at one end to thewaistband and having a longitudinal series of openings, there being infixed relation to the Waistband a hole through which the said tape ispassed, the said tape being passed through the hole, and any one of thesaid openings serving to receive a locking means to prevent the tapefrom passing back through the hole, the said tape comprising two tapesone passed back and forth through the other whereby the said openingsare formed between the two constituent tapes.

5., A, garment having a waistband, a tape secured atone end to thewaistband and having a longitudinal series of openings, there being infixed relation to the Waistband a hole through which the said tape ispassed, the said tape being passed through the hole, and any one of thesaid openings serving to recei e a locking means to prevent the tapefrom passingback through the hole, the said tape comprising a pair oftapes arranged side by side and secured together at selected places,whereby the said openings are formed between the constituent tapes.

6. A garment having a Waistband, a tape secured at one end to theWaistband and having a longitudinal series of openings, there being infixed relation to the Waistband a hole through Which the said tape ispassed, the said tape being passed through the hole, and any one of thesaid openings serving to receive a locking means to prevent the tapefrom passing back through the hole, the said tape comprising a strip ofmaterial having a longitudinal series of eyelets.

7. A garment having a Waistband, a tape secured at one end to theWaistband and havfiopies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the .jtrom passing ing a longitudinal series ofopenings, there being in fixed relation to the Waistband a hole throughWhich the said tape is passed, the said tape being passed through thehole, and any one of the said openings serving to receive a lockingmeans to prevent the tape back through the hole, the said tapecomprising a strip of material having a series of pairs of eyelets, themembers of the pairs being in different longitudinal lines.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 25th day of January, A. D. 1916.

THOMAS R. GAINES.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, JD. 03.

